Carotid Angiography

Carotid Angiography is an invasive imaging procedure that involves inserting a thin flexible tube (catheter) into a blood vessel in the groin (femoral or radial artery), and guiding it to the carotid arteries with the aid of a special x-ray machine. Contrast dye is injected through the catheter so that x-ray movies of your carotid arteries (the arteries that supply your brain with oxygen-rich blood) are taken. These x-ray images can be viewed right away so treatment decisions can be made quickly.

Your doctor uses carotid angiography to:

• Evaluate or confirm the presence of narrowing or blockage in your carotid arteries
• Determine risk for future stroke
• Determine the need for further treatment (angioplasty or surgery)
• Perform a minimally invasive procedure, carotid stenting, to fix the narrowing in the carotid artery